"The news bodes ill for Hewlett-Packard Company, which derives 30% of revenue and 15% of total operating profit from its personal computer segment," he wrote. "Going into 2013, we expect worldwide personal computer unit sales to decline between 2% and 5%."

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect HP to report revenue of $30.43 billion and earnings of $1.14 a share, compared to revenue of $32.1 billion and earnings of $1.17 a share in the prior year's equivalent quarter.

These are tough times to be selling computers. Declining PC and printer sales weighed heavily on HP's third-quarter results in August. The company also lowered its guidance for fiscal 2012.

Recent comments from other tech bellwethers have done little to boost investor confidence in HP, which has seen its shares slip more than 48% this year.

Wu, who has a neutral rating on HP, anticipates mixed results from the tech giant on Tuesday. "From our supply chain work, we believe revenue will likely come in light, but EPS in line or better," he wrote, attributing the earnings number to HP's cost controls.

Wu's modeling $30.4 billion in revenue and earnings of $1.16 per share.

The analyst highlighted continued sluggish trends in PCs and printers, which will be somewhat offset by healthier trends in servers and services. Software, a key area of focus for HP recently, should also be positive, although this is still a relatively small part of the company's total sales.

HP, of course, is still in the throes of a major restructuring effort , as CEO Meg Whitman attempts to turn the company's fortunes around. Last month Whitman started to flesh out this plan, but warned that it will take at least another three years.

Speaking at a securities analyst meeting in New York, Whitman described fiscal 2012 as a "diagnosis and foundation" year, with fiscal 2013 a "fix and rebuild" year. "Recovery and expansion," "acceleration" and "industry-leading competition" will characterize the years 2014 through 2016.

Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White expects HP to meet his revised fourth-quarter forecast of $30.43 billion in revenue and earnings of $1.14 a share. The analyst, however, has longer-term concerns about the tech giant.

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